4.3BSD-UWisc/man/catn/biff.n

BIFF(1)             UNIX Programmer's Manual              BIFF(1)



NAME
     biff - be notified if mail arrives and who it is from

SYNOPSIS
     biff [ yn ]

DESCRIPTION
     _B_i_f_f informs the system whether you want to be notified when
     mail arrives during the current terminal session.  The com-
     mand

          biff y

     enables notification; the command

          biff n

     disables it.  When mail notification is enabled, the header
     and first few lines of the message will be printed on your
     screen whenever mail arrives.  A ``biff y'' command is often
     included in the file ._l_o_g_i_n or ._p_r_o_f_i_l_e to be executed at
     each login.

     _B_i_f_f operates asynchronously.  For synchronous notification
     use the MAIL variable of _s_h(1) or the _m_a_i_l variable of
     _c_s_h(1).

X WINDOW SYSTEM
     If you are logged in under the X window system, a popup win-
     dow is used instead of a message to your login window.  To
     delete the window, click any mouse button with the mouse in
     the window.  Properties of the window can be controlled with
     options for _b_i_f_f in your ._X_d_e_f_a_u_l_t_s file.  The following
     options are recognized:

     Background
             To determine the background color.

     Border  To determine the border color.

     BorderWidth
             To determine the border width.  Default is 2.

     BodyFont
             To determine text font.  Default is 8x13.

     Foreground
             To determine the foreground color.

     InternalBorder
             To determine the padding around the text.  Default
             is 2.



Printed 12/6/86         4 September 1985                        1






BIFF(1)             UNIX Programmer's Manual              BIFF(1)



     Mouse   To determine the mouse cursor color.

     Offset  To determine the vertical position of the window.
             Positive is offset from the top of the screen, nega-
             tive is from the bottom.  Default is 2.  Window is
             centered horizontally.

     ReverseVideo
             If ``on'', the window should be white on black
             instead of black on white.  Default is off.

     Timeout In the event you don't click in the window, speci-
             fies the maximum number of minutes the window should
             remain on the screen.  Value of zero means infinite.
             Default is zero.

     Volume  Controls the volume of the bell.  Default is zero.

SEE ALSO
     csh(1), sh(1), mail(1), X(1), comsat(8C)



































Printed 12/6/86         4 September 1985                        2